Therapist, Toronto and London, ON

HLR Psychotherapy Change for Mood, Trauma and Relationships

Words are powerful; they can hurt, destroy relationships, they can spark a war and they can make you feel loved and at peace; they can promote healing.

Welcome. I am glad you have found your way here. I hope you will find useful information here, and that I am able to answer some of your questions and convey my clinical approach to you.

My approach to psychotherapy is determined by your unique experiences; the way you view the world and yourself which results in feelings and behaviors that may hinder you in living the life you wish for in your relationships and career. Rather than expecting you to fit one rigid approach I will strive to find the most effective way to help you within a framework that is flexible and individualized. I provide a safe, respectful, non-judgmental environment where you can develop and explore your thoughts further.

No matter what theoretical belief a psychotherapist has, what it comes down to is that there are two individuals that meet and start to talk to each other. It is the finding of words for your thoughts, your feelings and your experiences, in the past as well as your vision of your present and future. It is the creating of a story of who you are, where you came from and where you are going that slowly elicits changes in you. Our work is participatory, which means I not only listen but also share my reaction and perspective to what I hear, without being intrusive.

Services

My area of expertise is the treatment of individuals with mood disorders, or who have experienced trauma through physical, sexual or emotional abuse, as well as individuals who struggle with relationships (job, romantic relationships and family).

I provide Psychotherapy: I provide short- and long-term individual therapy for adolescents and adults. The goal of psychotherapy is to work on a specific problem you have in life – be it an emotional issue (anxiety, depression), or a relationship problem you are experiencing with family or friends, at work, or elsewhere in your life. We meet once or twice per week for 50 min.

I provide Psychoanalysis: I offer psychoanalysis to adults and sometimes to adolescents. Psychoanalysis is a method that will increase awareness of yourself, understanding patterns of feeling and relating that might hinder you in achieving a centered and satisfied life. I offer psychoanalytic treatment to individuals whose difficulties are not limited to one but pervade many area’s of their life and who experience a general dissatisfaction and/or suffering from long-standing depression, anxiety, sexual difficulties, physical symptoms without physical basis, or typically feel isolated or alone. Some people need psychoanalysis because their pattern of thinking, understanding others and environment and their behavior diminishes or prevents them from experiencing greater pleasure or productivity in life. The therapy takes place in a reclined position on a couch four times a week on fixed agreed upon appointments of 45 min.

Individuals:

I work with individuals that seek therapy for a wide range of issues such as anxiety, depression, problems maintaining or developing relationships with friends, family, partners, colleagues and superiors. Sometimes individuals see me due to difficulties in creating a healthy balance between work and life or difficulties in finding balance throughout all areas of their life. They are not always clear about the cause for feelings of depression, anxiety and confusion. Loneliness, poor self-esteem, self-defeating behavior and feelings of loss of meaning may be other issues they present with.
I have experience working with individuals who are struggling with life transitions such as marriage, divorce, empty nest and loss in the family or job and other.

Adolescents:

I work with adolescents who are experiencing emotional and behavioral problems of any type.

Adolescence has always been one of the most challenging times in a person’s life but modern society has added difficulties and demands that former generations did not have to deal with.

Couples:

I combine emotion-focused therapy with a psychodynamic approach. We focus not on the individuals themselves but have the relationship and the couple’s interactions and their assumptions of each other’s behaviours. in the center of our attention.

Couples sessions usually also last 50 min but they are encouraged to come in the initial phase of the treatment to 1.5 sessions of 75 min duration.

Rates:

I believe it is important for client and therapist to be able to work together. In order to do so, you should be able to meet with different therapists to find the best fit. I therefore offer a 40min free Initial consultation for individuals

Individual session: psychotherapy (50min) is $140 + HST (13%)

Psychoanalysis (45min) is $140 + HST (13%)

A limited fee is available for students, single parents or for those who are unemployed but are committed to treatment

Couple session: $140 + Hst (13%) per 50 min. I prefer to see the couple for 1.5 sessions (75min) per meeting but it is not a must. Meetings are usually weekly.

Payment:

Payment can be made by cash, cheque or email money transfer. I do not accept credit cards.

Your health benefits may pay some of my fees. You should contact your insurance company to enquire. Coverages vary with each company and registered psychotherapists are covered by some policies.

Also note that psychotherapy is a tax-deductible medical expense.

Cancellation: A minimum of 48 hours notice is required. This allows sufficient time for me to call someone, who is waiting for an appointment. If your session is scheduled for a Monday I ask you to cancel if possible by Thursday.

About me

I have received training in and use the tools of motivational interviewing, CBT, depth psychotherapy and psychoanalytic psychotherapy for your treatment.

The approach that has proven most effective in my clients is the psychoanalytic/psychodynamic approach. Similar to our ever-changing world of diversity and globalization, psychoanalytic/psychodynamic treatment has evolved significantly from Freud’s theory of the mind into a wide range of perspectives and approaches with many overlaps. My approach is therefore eclectic and I draw from different ideas to understand and treat my clients.

I truly love my work. I am thankful for every person I have ever met within the private walls of my office: thankful to them for opening up to me about their life, their struggles, their fears and hopes. They have been my best teachers showing me their resilience and resourcefulness.

My goal is to help people develop a wider range of emotional experiences, and find relief from symptoms, conflicts, and difficulties, including panic and anxiety, shame and depression. The therapeutic experience may also include helping someone navigate cultural demands and temperamental inclinations in order to feel more alive and connected in one’s mind and body, and to find one’s own version of a meaningful life. In order to do so, I believe it is equally important to work on our inner selves and the selves we present to the outside world and to include our past and present in order to develop a grounded and balanced sense of being.

My career:

I finished medical school in 1986 in Germany followed by a postdoctoral research fellowship in pediatric oncology in Germany and a two year research fellowship at a Harvard associated hospital, the Danca Farber Cancer Institute, in Boston. When I returned to Germany I started my residency in pediatrics and was board certified in pediatrics in 1996. In the same year I started my training as an analytical child and youth psychotherapist followed by the training as a psychoanalyst in 1998. I opened my private psychotherapeutic practice in Germany in 1998 for children and adolescents and later for adults. I became a board certified psychoanalyst in Germany in 2004.

After immigrating to Canada in 2005 I did complete a three year pediatric fellowship at The Hospital for Sick Children in the infant psychiatry program where I broadened my psychotherapeutic experience by treating mothers and their infants/child (0-4) with behavioral difficulties such as feeding disorders with a short term psychodynamic psychotherapy.

I opened a private practice for psychotherapy in 2008 in Toronto. In 2013,

I enrolled as a Candidate of the Toronto Institute for Psychoanalysis as my previous training in psychoanalysis in Germany is not recognized by the Canadian psychoanalytic society due to different standards.

I am a registered psychotherapist with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO). I currently practice in London and Toronto.

I am not licensed as a physician in Canada I am therefore not covered by OHIP.

Professional affiliation

Member, German Pediatric Society (DGKJ)
Member, German Psychoanalytic Society (DGPT)

Member, Canadian Association for Psychodynamic Therapy (CAPT)
Member, Ontario Association of Consultants, Counsellors, Psychometrics and Psychotherapists (OACCPP)

Hours and Locations:

Office in Toronto: 360 Dupont Street, M5R 1V9

Monday 1:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Tuesday-Thursday 7:00 am – 8:00 pm

Office in London, ON: 307-186 Albert Street N6A 1M1

Friday 12:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Saturday: 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Monday: 7:00 am - 10:00 am